Skip to main content

Isle of Wight Randonnee

The Isle of Wight Randonnee is a 100km circular route around the IoW with a shorter option also provided. The event is free to enter with donations suggested and a number of checkpoints which also act as start points so the 3,000 entrants can be staggered. It is not competitive and runs 9am to 6pm. In theory you could treat it as a day trip from London if you are fast enough though I have not worked out the train and ferry timings for that.

The graphic below shows the extra miles getting to a start at Wooten.

The organisation running the event is now the Mountbatten Isle of Wight charity and information - including registering interest - can be found at https://www.mountbatten.org.uk/randonnee2026

You can stay at the cycle-friendly Premier Inn at Newport which means a 25 minute cycle to Wootton or East Cowes for one of the starts; subject to confirmation there are 5 starting points, East Cowes, Wootton, Bembridge, Ventnor and Freshwater/Yarmouth.

A PDF of the previous route can be found at:
https://www.cycleisland.co.uk/images/map_1.pdf though check the latest information from Mountbatten IoW and, critically, what direction is being taken.

There are options for getting to the Isle of Wight:
Take the train to Southampton then the Red Funnel ferry to East Cowes; these run every hour and the crossing takes an hour. 

Take the train to Portsmouth Harbour then the ferry to Fishbourne; these run every 40 minutes and the crossing takes 45 minutes. Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde is also possible. 


Popular posts from this blog

Tour: Rickmansworth to Bicester

This post describes a 2-day cycle tour from Rickmansworth out to Bicester coming back via Marlow. Just add a start date and book your hotel! Start Point: Rickmansworth Station (Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways) Finish Point: The same as the start Meetup Time: 07:45 Start Time: 08:00 Route: Rickmansworth to Bicester Alt. Route: Rickmansworth to Silverstone   No. Days: 2 Day 1: Circa 100 km Day 2: Circa 100 km Options: If 100km +100km is a bit much why not do 62km + 50km by starting at Cheddington and finishing at Chinnor. Though more realistically subject to the Chinnor train times  (a tourist line) you would need to do the 45km from Bicester to Aston Rowant then make your own way to Princes Risborough which is another 12km. See below for other options.  Overnight:  Individuals book their own accommodation in Bicester (or Buckingham for the alternative route) such as a Premier Inn or Travelodge. Bicester is exactly halfway.  Hotels ...
Read more

Bike rides accessible from Harrow

Group Ride Etiquette  The rides listed below are suitable for social rides so it is worth learning ride etiquette . Remember your ride leader - if there is one - may be sacrificing their own ride to lead so be on time, follow the highway code, be prepared to fix your own bike (including punctures), be responsible for your own safety, take sufficient fuel and hydration, and don't race ahead. Bike components do break, punctures happen, and these things can't be avoided. However, bike maintenance can reduce the risk of failure during a group ride. The LCC has some well worded advice on bike checks . Use a safe and correct mount and dismount routine so you aren't the one who loses balance and crashes to the ground.  If you want to understand the practical considerations of a Guided Ride take a look at the relevant sections of  British Cycling Ride Leader Guidelines . This includes helpful supplementary links at the end. Mont Ventoux - May 2023 Hatch End Rides The start point...
Read more

Tour: Tring to Bicester to Tring

This post describes a relatively flat 2-day cycle tour from Tring out to Bicester via Buckingham then coming back to Tring via Chinnor. Just add a start date and book your hotel! Start Point:  Tring Station Finish Point:  Tring Station Meetup Time:  08:06 Start Time:  08:15 Route:  Tring to Bicester to Tring Route Alt: Tring to Bicester to Tring (ALT) No. Days:  2 Day 1:  72km Day 2:  79km Elevation: 910m of total climb over 2 days which is moderate. The only real climb is up to Brill early on the second day as the route always keeps you north of the Chiltern Hills. If you wanted a more demanding route you could avoid Marsworth and instead drop down to Cholesbury on the return as this takes you into the Chilterns.  Overnight:  Individuals can book their own accommodation in Bicester such as the Premier Inn or Travelodge. Bicester is approximately halfway.  Hotels   Bicester Premier Inn , in 2025 a room...
Read more